Empty streets, protests as Buhari visits BenueProtests, empty streets and distraught residents — Benue State was in no holiday mood yesterday for the President. President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit was to condole with the people over killings...

Folorunso Alakija Launches “Flourish Africa” as a Global Community for Women Empowerment

This morning, the Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Ltd., currently one of the largest indigenous Nigerian owned exporters of crude oil, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, officially launched “Flourish Africa”, a non-profit organisation aimed at creating a global community that encourages and helps women to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Mrs. Alakija is currently ranked amongst Forbes’ most influential women in the world with a net worth of $1.7 billion. Her latest initiative is designed to create a platform for both female millennials, and adults alike, to have access to information that will help them grow in the areas of career, living, love and relationships and inspirational messages from leading change makers.

“Flourish Africa” is an idea that was conceived to create a community of like-minded women, who share their individual experiences and encourage each other to be who God has created them to be. It is a platform designed for women by women to empower both the young and the old to flourish.

The online platform, the first phase of a series of initiatives under the “Flourish Africa” umbrella, is designed to help women in all aspects of their lives.

Mrs. Alakija who is also the founder of the Rose of Sharon Foundation (an NGO with its focus on helping widows and orphans), has been an advocate of empowering women for many years; her philanthropic work has improved the lives of thousands of women and orphans in Nigeria.

While “Flourish Africa” is aimed primarily at women, Mrs. Alakija points out that its message can relate to both genders. “I believe both men and women can benefit from the ethos of the “Flourish Africa” platform. I know that given the opportunity, women have the power to change the course of any nation and together, we can break down the stereotypes that hold us all back, making our communities much more stronger and greater. Together we can create a world where every woman understands their true value and have the tools at their disposal to follow their dreams.”

“Flourish Africa” is a worldwide movement, but it is ultimately rooted in the local realm. The organisation wants to begin by empowering women in Nigeria through several initiatives that will run throughout the year to enrich the lives of women both locally and internationally. Per Alakija, there is a need for more spaces in the online community where women can engage in intellectual discourse and uplift, empower, and inspire each other no matter what age.

The “Flourish Africa” concept stems from Mrs. Alakija’s assertion that “many women have the potential to be great. If we form a community of like-minded individuals who share a common goal and purpose, we can pull together, make an impact in every community we find ourselves and ultimately, flourish”.